We are only four days away from the opening of the SIHH 2016 —Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève— and this year already looks like another great year for all of us lucky enough to attend the most exclusive watch event on the planet. This year will be a special year for the SIHH as it celebrates its 26th edition and nine independent brands have been invited. The SIHH is not only the most exclusive watch event in the world but is also a private event for invited guests of the exhibiting brands. Organized by the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie and lead by Fabienne Luppo, this event is a true representation of what the words 'Haute Horlogerie' convey. On this post, we have included images from our last two attendances to the SIHH so you can see for yourselves. The SIHH has now been held for 25 years and takes place at the Geneva Palexpo —Geneva's Convention and Exhbition Center. The SIHH 2016 will kick-off Monday January 18th and run thru Friday January 22nd, 2016 from 8:30am to 7pm —except Thursday January 21th, when its open until 8:30pm for the celebratory VIP cocktail.

This year, unlike previous years, the SIHH will welcome 24 exhibiting brands for the first time and will have a new section named the Carré des Horlogers exclusively dedicated to nine top independent brands —artisan-creators as referred to by the SIHH— that will exhibit at the SIHH for the very first time. These nine independent brands include: Christophe Claret, De Bethune, Hautlence, H. Moser & Cie., HYT, Kari Voutilainen, Laurent Ferrier, MB&F and Urwerk.

The brands that have been exhibiting in the past are mainly Richemont Group brands —A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, Cartier, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Piaget, Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin and Van Cleef & Arpels— along with other brands including Audemars Piguet, Greubel Forsey and Richard Mille. For this 26th edition of the SIHH, Ralph Lauren is now gone.

The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève takes place in an elegantly decorated 40,000 square meters exhibition space and hosts up to 15,000 visitors during the week —including 1,500 journalists and international media representatives. Every edition of the SIHH features an official inauguration with the authorities of the Republic and Canton of Geneva, the president of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie —organizer of the Salon— and the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. On a daily basis and throughout each day of the Salon complimentary refreshments, champagne, coffee, pastries, petits fours and hors d'oeuvres are served along with a signature three-course lunch that is as good as the one you would have at any Michelin Star awarded restaurant.

Just as if the watches being presented, the décor and the space weren't fancy enough; the attendees, their outfits and the watches on their wrists, bring the Salon experience even higher. With attendees from every corner of the world, the diversity and elegance is always part of the experience. Not to mention, the beautiful ladies that are often cause of distraction when going into the Richard Mille booth, especially when they were wearing floral dresses made with real flowers last year. And of course, running into Richard Mille himself is also part of the experience.

Lastly, the SIHH tradition dictates that a VIP cocktail is held on the fourth day of the event. Personalities from Geneva’s economic and political world, along with guests of honor of the watchmaking Maisons are invited to this reception that offers an annual an opportunity for introductions and to raise funds for its charity activity. Of course, the beautiful people are always present.

Just as we've done it this past two years —since the launch of our website in 2013—, we will bring you the best media coverage straight from Geneva while we attend the 26th edition of the most exclusive watch even in the world, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève SIHH 2016. Stay tuned for our coverage here and across all our social media platforms starting Monday January 18th, 2016.

For more info on the SIHH click here and the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie here.